You might have spotted the cool setting on your dryer and never bothered using it because maybe it didn't make sense to you. But the cool shot is actually like popping the cherry on top of the cake - it seals the hair cuticle, leaving hair looking shiny. "A cold button is absolutely essential for finishing and setting the hair," says Reed. Having curly hair can present many challenges – as can styling it. Here are our tips to achieve the best finish. The Hersheson gives you three temperatures, three speed levels and a cool shot. ‘It’s very quiet and the attachments are good,’ Timothy says. ‘I particularly like the diffuser, which was great for curly and wavy hair. Choosing the best hair dryer for curly hair is no easy feat, you want to look at all the key points as you would in the best hair dryer, but in a tool that works for curls. The hair dryer has Oxy Active Technology, which is designed to ‘emit active oxygen with anti-bacterial effect for improved colour fixation and shine’. While it was hard to notice whether it did improve colour, we did notice how smooth the results were in our tests.

It did well at smoothing out wavy hair at home. It does, however, only have one head, which may make it a little too large for some hair types as one size doesn’t always fit all. On the plus side, it’s light and compact enough to fit into hand luggage. However, if you regularly use a diffuser to style your hair, then we suggest you look elsewhere. It’s likely you’ll see the best results from a diffuser that’s purpose-built for a particular dryer – which means even with a universal diffuser attachment, you might be disappointed with the 3Q. Instead, consider an option from our roundup of the best hair dryers for curly hair. The three temperature and four speed settings can be independently selected using the sliding switches on the handle, making it very easy to control the level of heat and air you expose your hair to. There’s also an innovative alternating hot and cold mode, which blasts hot air along the hair shaft to heat it into your chosen style, followed automatically by cool air to seal the cuticle and set the style. A scalp mode gently dries the roots and scalp at 50˚C, and is particularly good for dry and sensitive scalps.

I love all of the tech to sit inside. I also like a bit of weight, a long barrel, and a good wide nozzle. For me, the most important part is the way the air meets the hair. A controlled stream of air allows control of the hair," says Adam Reed, celebrated hairdresser and founder of Adam Reed London and Arkive Headcare. An upgrade on the popular Revlon One-Step Volumiser, the Plus model claims to give you 50 percent less heat exposure and has the technology built in to create shinier results. It’s aimed at those who want to easily create a bouncy blow dry at home and we found it fuss-free and easy to use. It measured around the 90-decibel mark on its highest setting, so can get quite noisy, though. Despite the fast speeds it delivers, the 3Q hair dryer is actually quieter than other models we’ve tested. On its maximum speed setting, sound levels reached 93dBA from 15cm away. Although not whisper-quiet, this is half the noise level of the similarly priced ReVamp Progloss 5500 hair dryer. Key specs – Heating element: Ionic; Temperature settings: 4; Power: 1,600W; Speed settings: 3; Cable length: 2.7m; Cold shot button: Yes; Accessories: Concentrator, diffuser and smoothing nozzles; Weight: 690g Long cables are a great feature too," says Douglas. "There’s nothing worse than not being able to see in a mirror when you’re drying your hair, as plugs aren’t always where you need them," he explains. You might not have a plug by your mirror, you might have to plug it in the hallway but do your hair in the bathroom. It matters. Weight

Key specs – Heating element: Ionic; Temperature settings: 3; Power: 2,200W; Speed settings: 3; Cable length: 3 metres; Cold shot button: Yes; Accessories: Concentrator nozzle; Weight: 768The Style iQ’s powerful airflow means the dryer’s cooler settings are still effective, so you can dry your hair efficiently without toasting it. In addition, the dryer uses ionic technology to moisturise the hair as it dries; our hair was smooth, glossy and hydrated after drying. The cool shot setting is handy to seal the cuticle and set your style once you’ve finished drying. A smart and stylish dryer that leaves hair feeling healthy, with clever attachments to help you find the ideal settings for your preferred style. Hand shaped diffusers: Zendaya seems to swear by this kind of diffuser. Popularised by DevaCurl, the brand says that this funky-looking diffuser gets right to the roots for a speedier drying time. The ergonomic hand shape also allows you to scrunch your curls during the drying process, rather than in-between. In general, a higher wattage indicates a more powerful and effective dryer. Hair salons will typically use dryers with 2,000W motors and above, allowing experienced stylists to blow-dry efficiently. However, like many salon products, these powerful tools are best left in the hands of professionals who know how to wield them safely. At-home hair dryers usually fall in the 1,000W-1,600W range. The Dyson Airwrap alternatives prove hair dryers have come a long way in terms of development and what you can get for your money.

Avoid excessive colouring. One of the biggest problems I see is unnecessary, excessive colour damage - either too much colour or repeated over and over on the same hair. This leaves it thin, fragile and dull. Find a colourist that cares about hair health and who wants your hair to look its best for as long as possible, rather than making you return asap to spend again." Don’t get too close – for too long – when drying hair. Resting the nozzle on your hair for an extended period will guarantee over-drying and damage. Try to keep a one-inch distance between your hair and the dryer and heat-style less often." With their ‘Great Hairdryer’, Hershesons claim to have found ‘the lightest, most powerful and efficient dryer on the market’. It comes in a blue tin box with a diffuser, two concentrator nozzles and a stand included and at 295g, it weighs less than a can of Coke – compare this to the 659g Dyson Supersonic or the 730g Shark STYLE iQ Ionic. It’s also very slim. This makes it a great travel companion, as well as limiting arm-ache when you’re using it. Interestingly, some of the most coveted hair dryers this year are from Dyson and its American competitor Shark, both better known for their cordless vacuum cleaners. Big name GHD could not quite match their results. We also tested some lesser-known brands for a range of budgets and hair types. If you’re pushed for time, here are the top five: At a glance - the best hair dryers of 2023 Collapsible diffusers: For all your travel needs, these diffusers do the same as your classic cup-type, but can collapse for easy storage.

We've tested the best hair dryers for all hair types and budgets to take your hair from so-so to stunning

When testing, we time the speed of drying from freshly washed hair to fully dry (noting the hair length and texture we test on); and evaluate the overall ease of use, noise, and the finish and feel of the hair after drying. Using equipment such as anemometers, infrared heat sensors and sound level meters allows us to directly compare the speed, heat and noise levels of different dryers. We also note how well curls, waves and straight styles last in a typical day of wear. Finally, we confirm the weight and dimensions of the tool. Timothy’s client Emma (pictured above), who has Type 3 curls, loves the diffuser attachment Timothy used. “I’d use a hair dryer like this at home,” she says. “There are four precise heat settings ranging from 100°C to 28°C. That, plus a good balance of air flow, helps to protect my hair from burning.” Key specs – Heating element: Ionic; Temperature settings: 3; Power: 1,520W; Speed settings: 3; Cable length: 2.5m; Cold shot button: Yes; Accessories: Concentrator, diffuser; Weight: 500g The 2,000W motor is powerful enough to dry hair fast and with a minimum of fuss, and the dryer comes with a concentrator nozzle to direct airflow. The long barrel also helps make it easy to direct airflow where you want it, and there are two speed and three heat settings for drying flexibility, plus a cool shot to set your finished style. If you’re on a budget, this is an excellent alternative to some of the pricier products reviewed above.

Comfortable to hold and fast drying with no extreme heat, the Dyson Supersonic is thoughtfully designed. Its clever tech measures air temperature 40 times a second to prevent heat damage and protect your hair’s shine. It was one of the quieter hair dryers we tried - measuring around 83 decibels on its highest setting - and gentle enough to use on children.Since launch, Dyson has also added a range of attachments to join the nozzles and diffuser. The “Gentle air dryer” attachment resembles the hem of a skirt and uses its waves to diffuse the airflow, making it softer without reducing drying time; it’s perfect for fine or damaged hair. A new wide-tooth comb attachment, designed for curly or coily hair, detangles the hair while drying to prevent damage and make it easier to style.